Hybrid and Percutaneous Salvage of a Thrombosed Native Arteriovenous Fistula

Abstract

Context: Outcomes of salvage procedures for thrombosed native arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are studied. Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the short- to mid-term results of percutaneous and hybrid approaches used for salvage of thrombosed native AVF. Settings and Design: This study design was a single-center, descriptive, prospective study. Materials and Methods: All patients undergoing hybrid or percutaneous salvage procedure between July 2018 and September 2019 were included in the study. Patient demographics, clinical, and operative details and follow-up data at 1 year were collected from a prospectively maintained database and subjected to statistical analysis. Salvage procedure selection and techniques were studied. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 135 patients undergoing salvage procedure during the study period, 85 patients were included in the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The age of the study population ranged from 18 to 75 years with a mean of 53.33. 75.3% (n = 64) were males. Seventy-seven (90.58%) patients were hypertensive, 45 (52.94%) were diabetic, and 22 (25.88%) had coronary artery disease. The mean time to procedure from the failure of AVF was 8.22 days. The most common type of AVF was brachiocephalic (45.88% [n = 39]), followed by radiocephalic (36.47% [n = 31]) and basilic vein transposition (BVT) (17.64% [n = 15]). Stenotic sites were juxta anastomotic in 42 (49.41%), cephalic arch or axillary swing segment (for BVT) in 28 (32.94%), and intervening segment in 54 (63.52%). Sixty patients underwent hybrid salvage and 25 underwent percutaneous salvage procedure. Technical success was 88.23% on table and 83.53% at 24 h. Primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency was 67.86%, 82.14%, and 89.29% at 6 months and 50%, 68.75%, and 83.33% at 12 months. Anastomotic thrombosis was associated with significantly high technical failure (35.7% vs. 12.67%,P= 0.049). Conclusions: A combination of open and endovascular procedures to salvage thrombosed native AVF's is feasible and is associated with good short- and mid-term patency. A thrombosed anastomosis in a failed AVF decreases the success rate of salvage procedures.